I was reading the Canadian newspapers today, as I do most days. And as I have mentioned in previous posts, there is rarely any news in them. Yes, there is information -- things I didn't know before I read the papers -- but real news.... rarely.
Today was different for me. Something actually caught my eye. I wouldn't call it news, but it was attention-grabbing.
I read two articles which reminded me why I live in Israel and why most Canadian Jews have selective vision. I am sorry to say but it reminds me of what I think Germany must have been like in the early days after Hitler's election.
One article in The Globe and Mail. It was about two really nice young guys in Montreal who admitted to (www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090212.wBulphred0212/EmailBNStory/National/home) firebombing Jewish buildings. These guys were so nice, in fact, that it was reported that one of them even had a Jewish fiancee at one point. And as if that wasn't enough, his family was quoted as saying that they have Jewish friends.
Well, thank you for that.
I love those lines and I have heard them all: "Some of my best friends are Jewish" or "You aren't like the other Jews I know." I have no idea what THAT second comment means but if I had a tub of strawberry Haagen Dazs for everyone who has said that to me over the years, I would weigh a ton.
The second article was an opinion piece in The National Post. It was a recount of an on-campus quasi-non-violent attack on the Hillel offices on the campus of York University yesterday. (network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/02/12/an-eyewitness-account-of-this-week-s-aggressive-intimidation-of-jewish-students-at-york-university.aspx)
I will spare you the details. If you want to read them, you have the link noted above. Suffice it to say, it wasn't pretty.
But what struck me the most was how afraid the Jewish students in the Hillel on-campus office were. They were afraid because they didn't have enough information to fight back with words. There are very good counter-arguments to every ridiculous thing the anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian supporters were spouting. Very good arguments. Legitimate arguments that are supported by the Canadian government in fact.
In the end the Jewish students called the police who came and escorted them out of the building while a large group of anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian protesters taunted them. If I was one of the taunters I would have considered that a victory. The Jewish students went home (protected by the police) without a (verbal) fight. They never once made their positions known or took a proactive stance. Talk about an easy win for the other side. Hamas would just love it if the Israelis would do the same -- just pack up and leave. Then they could all get back to important business -- fighting amongst themselves.
There are at least ten times the number of Muslims in Canada as there are Jews. And amongst those Jews, most don't care or care to find out what is really going on. The writing is on the wall. It's not the first time. It's not going to be the last. Jews have never won a popularity contest and they never will. I'm just glad those York students don't live here.
Most of the press world-wide is or has become anti-Israel. Needless to say, the Muslims living in the 'free' world are pushing this button even further and extending it to the co-conspirator Jews who live outside Israel.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to fight these things and the Net is a good way of doing so.
What you are doing here is also an excellent way of getting the word out. I will forward your link to my Canada list. I'm certain there are many in the 'old country' who would not only be interested in hearing the story of an immigrant to Israel from Canada, but also to help them see what their lives look like from here.
Keep up the good work!
Shabbat Shalom